Killing of sankhacuda
1. Once Lord Govinda and Lord Rama, the performers of wonderful feats, were playing in the forest at night with the young girls of Vraja.
2. Krsna and Balarama wore flower garlands and spotless garments, and Their limbs were beautifully decorated and anointed. The women sang Their glories in a charming way, bound to Them by affection.
3. The two Lords praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers.
4. Krsna and Balarama sang, producing the entire range of musical sounds simultaneously. Their singing brought happiness to the ears and minds of all living beings.
5. The gopis became stunned when they heard that song. Forgetting themselves, they did not notice that their fine garments were becoming loose and their hair and garlands disheveled.
6. While Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama thus played according to Their own sweet will and sang to the point of apparent intoxication, a servant of Kuvera named sankhacuda came upon the scene.
7. Even as the two Lords looked on, sankhacuda brazenly began driving the women off toward the north. The women, who had accepted Krsna and Balarama as their Lords, began to cry out to Them.
8. Hearing Their devotees crying out “Krsna! Rama!” and seeing that they were just like cows being stolen by a thief, Krsna and Balarama began to run after the demon.
9. The Lords called out in reply, “Do not fear! “Then They picked up logs of the sala tree and quickly pursued that lowest of Guhyakas, who swiftly ran away.
10. When sankhacuda saw the two of Them coming toward him like the personified forces of Time and Death, he was filled with anxiety. Confused, he abandoned the women and fled for his life.
11. Lord Govinda chased the demon wherever he ran, eager to take his crest jewel. Meanwhile Lord Balarama stayed with the women to protect them.
12. The mighty Lord overtook sankhacuda from a great distance as if from nearby, and then with His fist the Lord removed the wicked demon’s head, together with his crest jewel.
13. Having thus killed the demon sankhacuda and taken away his shining jewel, Lord Krsna gave it to His elder brother with great satisfaction as the gopis watched.
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